Hundreds of Syrians protested in central Damascus on Sunday against new restrictions on the sale of alcohol, reflecting growing fears that Islamist authorities could tighten restrictions on personal freedoms.
The Syrian capital last week banned the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars, allowing only shops in three Christian neighborhoods to sell bottles.
In one of them, Bab Tuma, protesters gathered in a silent demonstration following calls from civil society organizations to condemn what they say exacerbates religious divisions, with placards reading “personal freedom is a red line”.
Security forces monitored the gathering, according to an Agence France-Presse team on the ground.
“This kind of decision will not stand,” 37-year-old television reporter Rami Koussa told Agence France-Presse at the protest.
For university professor Hanan Assi, Syrians have “thousands of forgotten issues, from poverty to the displaced, homeless and refugees” that should be prioritized instead.
